Airbus (www.airbus.com) has held a ground-breaking ceremony for its E-Aircraft System House in Ottobrunn, Germany, which is due to open in 2018. During the ceremony, the company announced that it had signed a collaboration agreement with Siemens to develop hybrid electric propulsion systems.

According to Airbus CEO Tom Enders, the two companies have “sourced a team of around 200 employees to advance
European leadership in innovation and the development of electrically powered aircraft”.

He added: “Electric and electric-hybrid flight represent some of the biggest industrial challenges of our time, aiming at zero-emissions aviation. The progress we have achieved in this arena in only a few years is breath-taking, culminating in last year’s channel crossing by our all-electric E-Fan aircraft.

“We believe that passenger aircraft below 100 seats could be propelled by hybrid propulsion systems by 2030, and we are determined to explore this possibility with world-class partners like Siemens.”

Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser said: “Hybrid-electric propulsion systems can significantly reduce aircraft fuel consumption and noise. European emissions targets aim for a 75% reduction of CO2 emissions by 2050, compared to 2000. These ambitious goals cannot be achieved by conventional technologies.”

Airbus has also announced that it is to set up a new 3-D printing centre in Munich, Germany. Based at the Ludwig Bolkow Campus, the Aerospace Factory will research and apply innovative 3-D printing materials and production
methods for the aerospace industry, with a focus on developing lightweight, cost-efficient, and structurally complex propulsion systems.